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Math lesson plan · Kindergarten (Reception and Year 1 in England) · 45 minutes

The count stays the same when objects move

Number sense

CCSS K.CC.B.4bEngland: Reception Number

Objective and success criteria

Students will: The count stays the same when objects move.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Count pictures from 6 to 10

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Place value chart, Base-ten blocks or a number line, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Count pictures from 6 to 10). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. How many diamonds are there? ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ → 6Prompt: The top line has 5. Start at 5 and keep counting.
  2. Count only the stars. How many stars are there? ★ ★ ★ ♥ ★ ♥ ♥ ★ ★ ★ ♥ → 7Prompt: Skip the hearts: they do not count.
  3. How many diamonds are there? ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ → 9Prompt: The top line has 5. Start at 5 and keep counting.

Hook · 5 min

  • Show a number in the news or a price tag and ask what each digit is worth.
  • Share the objective: The count stays the same when objects move. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Hiro counts 10 crayons in a line. Then Hiro moves them into a tall tower. None are added or taken away. How many crayons are there now?
  • Step 1: Still 10: moving them does not change how many.
  • Answer: 10
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Grace counts 10 apples in a line. Then Grace moves them into a circle. None are added or taken away. How many apples are there now? → 10Prompt: Did the number of things change, or just where they are?
  2. Tariq counted these dots from left to right and got 10. True or false: counting from right to left gives a different number. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Try it: count them starting from the other end.

You do: independent practice · 10 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Mateo counted these squares from left to right and got 10. True or false: counting from right to left gives a different number. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Try it: count them starting from the other end.
  2. Row A has 6 counters close together. Row B has 6 counters spread out, so it looks longer. Which row has more counters? (Row A / Row B / They have the same) → They have the samePrompt: A longer row does not always mean more.

Watch out for

  • Reading 1,045 as one thousand four hundred five: point to each place and say its value.
  • Thinking a longer number is always bigger, even with decimals (0.45 vs 0.5).

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Count pictures from 6 to 10.
  • Use concrete materials: place value chart.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/kindergarten.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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The count stays the same when objects move

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Nia counted these squares from left to right and got 5. True or false: counting from right to left gives a different number. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

    • A. True
    • B. False

  2. Question 2

    Sofia counts 10 apples in a line. Then Sofia moves them into two piles. None are added or taken away. How many apples are there now?

    Answer

  3. Question 3

    Row A has 5 counters close together. Row B has 5 counters spread out, so it looks longer. Which row has more counters?

    • A. Row A
    • B. Row B
    • C. They have the same

  4. Question 4

    Felix counted these hearts from left to right and got 10. True or false: counting from right to left gives a different number. ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

    • A. True
    • B. False

  5. Question 5

    Noah counts 10 birds in a line. Then Noah moves them far apart. None are added or taken away. How many birds are there now?

    Answer

  6. Question 6

    Row A has 6 counters close together. Row B has 6 counters spread out, so it looks longer. Which row has more counters?

    • A. Row A
    • B. Row B
    • C. They have the same

  7. Question 7

    Maya counted these hearts from left to right and got 6. True or false: counting from right to left gives a different number. ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

    • A. True
    • B. False

  8. Question 8

    Aisha counts 5 birds in a line. Then Aisha moves them far apart. None are added or taken away. How many birds are there now?

    Answer

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Answer key: The count stays the same when objects move

  1. 1. B. False

  2. 2. 10

  3. 3. C. They have the same

  4. 4. B. False

  5. 5. 10

  6. 6. C. They have the same

  7. 7. B. False

  8. 8. 5